Creating an online viewing of your business for your target market and/or customers goes a lot further than only having a website these days. There is the total footprint that makes the world of difference to your online presence. For example, having a presence on social media is critical to increasing your visibility, growing your brand and building relationships with your target market or engaging with your current customers to improve their experience in a positive way, that they’re looking for in a company. So, as business people, we have to take a look at all of the reasons why your business needs to be on social media.
Reasons your business should be on social media
It’s free advertising
Social media is a network that is all about engagement, which includes liking, commenting, sharing, retweeting, etc. It’s about getting the word out across a wide audience of people with the click of a button. So, it serves as free advertisement when you use it correctly. Now, most of this “free” engagement requires time and time is money but it is worth it’s weight in gold, so outsource if you have to.
The more people who engage with the content that you put up, the more exposure that it gets, and the more potential people, thus clients, that it draws in to find out more about what you offer. It’s free in all of your typical platforms like Facebook (learn how here), Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram and etc and several have their own paid/advertising platforms.
Social media has so many benefits for you and your business. Be sure you use it well! #smm Click To TweetIt promotes engagement between customers and your business
Back in the day before social media, a business wouldn’t be able to have much opportunity to communicate with a client outside of a sale. Now it can be done through a chat, a comment on a post, or private messaging systems through these platforms. It helps the customer and business communicate safely and comfortably for both sides, making it a powerful tool to help break down the unnecessary formal walls that can cause frustration and alienation in some cases. This in itself allows small businesses the ability to “compete” with larger businesses in that they have a presence on the internet when they may not even have a store-front – visibility!
Sets you apart from competition
Even if your competition is using social media to help market themselves, you can still totally set yourself apart from them by doing all that you can to make it a positive experience. Create content that isn’t about sales, provide value. Share things that your audience would enjoy, that show you are human, like funny photos of staff, or photos that you can find that relate to your business. Show the customer that you are there to engage with them, not push your own product or brand. A customer is looking for a way to engage with a business online and if you keep the sales content to a minimum it will be all that more effective, and it will bring in more customers. They don’t want to be pushed into a corner with over the top sales-related content.
Easy to succeed
The majority of modern day workers know how to use social media to a comfortable level and point. Therefore, it’s great tool to use when a business is looking to succeed and draw in the right kind of attention. It has user-friendly options and you can help make it a comfortable experience for all that use it on both sides of the social media profile. If you do it right, you’ll find yourself succeeding in no time and for all of the right reasons. However, keep in mind that it isn’t your personal social profile and must be treated as a business account. So if you aren’t sure how to run your business social media, get help!
Uses popular tools and platforms
You and the customer may be comfortable with different platforms that you use but in the long run, it’ll be convenient as far as a tool and its engagement with customers. It’ll be common ground for all using it and it will help you get your name out there – brand visibility. Best of all, it uses informal language where it’s all about being relaxed and casual and comfortable. Human nature!
Boosts search engine optimization (SEO)
The more you use your business keywords on social media, the better your chances to rank in social media and in search engines. Remember that your footprint is all about the total visibility on the internet. This is great if you’re looking to make sure that you get a higher ranking legally and for all of the best reasons. If you do it the right way, you will rank longer and have less chances of being dinged by search engines for unethical practices.
Social media adds to your total online footprint which increases your visibility to search engines. #smm #seo Click To TweetAgain, it isn’t just about the content that you post but includes when people tag your business, retweet something you posted, or other public sharing options. This, in fact, is one of the biggest perks about using social media for your business – when your posts go viral which further helps get your business seen and ranked better in search engines.
Helps keep clients coming back
Clients want to be wooed and appreciated. They want to see that they matter to you, and that you would be upset if they left you to go to another company. This is why social media is helpful in creating a bond with the customer in a professional setting. Social media is focused on relationship building, both passively and actively in posts and comments on photos. It shows that client or individual that you care about them and what you can provide them in services and products (read: value).
Some additional tips to make it worthwhile
So, now that you see why it’s just so critical to helping you get everything working just how you want it, the time is going to come for you to actually use it effectively. Here are some great tips to help you make the best impression on your platform(s) of choice:
- Respond to every comment, even if it’s just a “like” or something similar. It shows the customer that you’ve seen their message and care about what they said.
- Respond to questions or concerns politely and effectively, inviting them to message or call or email with the details.
- Don’t focus on sales, as has been mentioned already. Customers don’t want to be reading through promotional material all the time. Keep it to a minimum and focus on engaging with the customer as much as you can.
- Keep your language informal so that your customer sees that you as a company are relaxed and enjoying what you do in terms of your business as well as posting on social media. It goes a long way. Further, it makes it easier to understand by all.
Bottom line
Hopefully you are good at what you do and you love it. So make sure that you share that passion with the people around you, your customers and potential customers, and it WILL help them see that you are someone they want to be associated with next time that they need your services or products. Remember, it is about relationships and creating that Know, Like & Trust factor. It’s the way of the future, so get on board with it now and build up your presence as you get used to it. It’ll show you positive results in the long run.
If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact me or leave your notes in the comments below.
~Kristen
I can’t even imagine a business not being on social media these days! I mean, how do they do business?
Love the tips to make it worthwhile!
I know right Susan?
We really live in such an amazing time to be entrepreneurs! Great tips – thanks!
We sure do Kim… thank you
Great tips Kristen. Your FB video series looks like an inexpensive way to get a business up and going with social media. What great information! https://www.avisualbusiness.com/social-media/facebook-video-series-sales/
I sure hope so Candess, that was my plan. Thank you!
These are such great tips, Kristen. Every time I read one of your posts I learn something new, get an important reminder of something I sorta knew but hadn’t really implemented, or get inspired and energized. Thank you!
Awww, you are too sweet Reba.. and I appreciate it and glad that it is helping!
Spoken like a true social media expert! Hope you’re prepared for more social media clients because you’ll attract them with these tips. Social media has got to be the most misunderstood and misused marketing channel ever! It’s funny that businesses believe their content even gets seen these days without a financial investment of some sort (tools, ads, graphics, help), especially on Facebook or Instagram. Good thing they have you to help them!
You got one thing right… SM is one of the MOST misused and most misunderstood marketing… and it always will be. Too many think because they have a personal Facebook that they can run a biz. SAD! Thanks Meghan! Glad they have US to help
I can’t imagine a business of any kind NOT having a social media presence these days, Kristen! I love your three final points…reply to every comment, don’t focus on sales, and keep your language conversational! All of these are things I have intuitively known from day one and have continued to do. I also appreciate people who authentically run their businesses this way! Thanks for reaffirming.
You are so right Bev and glad you are on board!
Kristen,
This was a great article and had a lot of tips that I took to heart and plan to use. We use social media to connect with people.Thanks
Lori English
Thanks Lori!
Every booking and enquiry I’ve had about my arts and craft school, since reopening this year, has come from people who heard about the school on social media. I advertised in school newsletters and a few other places, but all my business has come from what I put on social media. I can’t imagine how any business could attract customers without it these days, Kristen. It’s such a wonderful way for people to get to know you. I’m starting to have some really good conversations with people on my arts and crafts FB business page and people are even sharing wonderful ideas with me to use in my classes.
That is awesome Tami… and I’m so glad that it is building well for you. The internet is an amazing thing!
We live in such an amazing time right now! I can’t imagine being able to do a lot of the things that are available to us now that we have the internet and all the amazing tools that people like you can help us optimize and have a real impact!
You are so right Kim! Thank you for sharing your words
I do love all that social media adds to our business. You highlight so many more reasons in this blog. It makes me want to go online right now and post something!
Your enthusiasm on the subject is contagious
Oh thank you Alene.. I appreciate that!
These are all excellent tips for being in the social media world with our business. I agree we need to respond to all comments, engage with our audience and build connection rather than focusing on sales. When we build the K,L,T factor, the sales will come.
Exactly Tandy.. it’s the know like trust. Thank you!
Great post! That’s one of the reasons not to spread yourself too thin on all the platforms. You just can’t respond to everyone if you’re all over the place but if you get into one special niche – you can make it work and then, it’s such an opportunity that’s available no place else.
OH yes Cathy.. exactly.. can’t be everywhere.. so be where you can CONQUER IT!
True, it is really a must to be on social media, at least on some platform, and to understand how it can benefit you. Especially to get help to learn how to use it, to not use your personal FB or IG profile for business as I see so often. 🙂
You got that right Kata.. it is a MUST!
You and Meghan were both on the same page this week on the importance of social media. I admit I’ve not been taking advantage of social media. You are very persuasive and will be making me change my ways. Thanks for another great kick in the butt.